If you could have a beer and shoot the breeze...

thekingofclout · #1 01-09-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

I'd have to go with Cobb, not so much for the sake of baseball, but in the hope that I could find a way of getting inside his mind. He is the most intriguing choice from a psychological perspective.

I've done the next best thing; I've had conversations and beers with men who played alongside all of the possible selections. Wouldn't trade those memories for the world.

That's awesome Jodi. How did you pull that off?

mr2686 · #2 01-09-2010, 08:24 AM

I'd also have to go with Cobb. I'd like to find out where the "media" stories end and the real man begins. I find it hard to balance the stories you hear about him with some of the letters that he has written that we see in the hobby. He was obviously a driven, troubled and complex man, but would be interesting to talk to for awhile. Of course, we'd have to have a Coke and not a beer!

GKreindler · #3 01-09-2010, 08:51 AM

Sign me up for Cobb as well. Granted, they're ALL interesting choices with unique stories between them; for whatever reason, the Peach is the most appealing to me. I think like Mike, I'd love to try and find the line that separates the legend from reality.

At the same time, maybe he can clue me in on all of those ballpark and advertisement colors that I have trouble with from that era.

If there was a choice from someone not on the list, it might be someone like Ol' Reliable Tommy Henrich. In my opinion, he's one of the more underrated Yankees that would have been a star on any other team. I suppose it's tough to not take a backseat to people like Gehrig, DiMaggio, Gordon, Dickey and the like. I just think that playing ball in the period between 1937 and 1950 must have provided him with memories worth a million dollars...I was very sad to hear of his passing last month.

Lordstan · #4 01-09-2010, 09:03 AM

Obvious choice from the list I think is Ruth. Certainly cases could be made for each, but how could anyone pass on Ruth. To get to know him in more personal way would be incredible.

My personal choice overall would be Lou Gehrig. To get to know him would be beyond words.

barrysloate · #5 01-09-2010, 09:06 AM

I chose Ruth because he seemed like a genuinely nice guy and would have been a lot of fun to hang with. Mantle was surly when he was drunk; Cobb was completely insane; Jackie seemed too quiet and reserved; and not only was Clemente too serious but I don't think he spoke English very well, so we wouldn't have had a lot to say to each other.

thekingofclout · #6 01-09-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I chose Ruth because he seemed like a genuinely nice guy and would have been a lot of fun to hang with. Mantle was surly when he was drunk; Cobb was completely insane; Jackie seemed too quiet and reserved; and not only was Clemente too serious but I don't think he spoke English very well, so we wouldn't have had a lot to say to each other.

And working at a casino for the last 25 years, I'm fluent in broken English in about a dozen or so dialects. So Clemente wouldn't be a problem for me

GKreindler · #7 01-09-2010, 10:41 AM

But Ruth might be the better tipper, Jimmy!

GoldenAge50s · #8 01-09-2010, 10:46 AM

If there was a choice from someone not on the list, it might be someone like Ol' Reliable Tommy Henrich. In my opinion, he's one of the more underrated Yankees that would have been a star on any other team.

Very interesting that Graig mentions Tommy Henrich because I have had the pure pleasure to do exactly that--sit & drink Buds for nearly 2 hrs w/ Tommy--and it's the highlite of my card-collecting career!

As for selecting a player from the list to do the same thing w/---it's hands-down Mickey for me! I grew up w/ baseball & Mickey simultaneously and altho the Babe would be the popular choice and also probably mine---but only if Mantle was NOT on the list!

GKreindler · #9 01-09-2010, 11:44 AM

Holy crapola, Fred!! Tell me more!

steve B · #10 01-09-2010, 02:21 PM

Tough choices!
I'm torn between Cobb and Ruth. Cobb could be fascinating, even if he was a bit harsh. I'm not sure about nice letters, but I passed on one I shouldn't have that was pretty strongly worded. I've wondered for years how much of the venom later on was real and how much was living down to the rep he'd built. His attitudes about some things weren't all that extreme for the 20's-30's.

But if I was going out on the town it would be Ruth for sure.

As a kid I did get to spend a little time with Feller and Brooks Robinson, not very loong, but a good deal more than just hello.

Steve

ChiefBenderForever · #11 01-09-2010, 10:09 PM

I would love to party with Ruth, but to talk Cobb would be very interesting. His grandfather was a confederate soldier who was shot by the Yanks and almost killed, his father had his head blown off by his mother and the rest is history. If I had the choice of anyone not on the list I would like to talk with Chief Bender, Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Lou Gehrig.

View Poll Results: Choose ONE guy you could have a beer & shoot the breeze with?
Ty Cobb	19	23.46%
Babe Ruth	43	53.09%
Jackie Robinson	7	8.64%
Mickey Mantle	7	8.64%
Roberto Clemente	5	6.17%
Voters: 81. You may not vote on this poll